Re: mold profile

[Guest guest]

Lori, normal for mold 'probably' says your

results were similar to the population in general

and therefore you do not show anything that would

indicate unusual mold exposure. Everyone has

'some'. However if you detected 'problem' right

away and did something about it, removed a/c,

sofa, etc, may be you were reacting to mold but

took action so quickly that your body doesn't

have excessively high antigens to it.

HOWEVER according to what I have heard from

talking to people, body reactions to 'toxins' in

general are so similar to each other, even though

symptoms sound like mold exposure/toxic mold

exposure, could be other toxins, like off gassing

of bed.

In general I think getting rid of a/c OR cleaning

it out well and keeping it maintained

meticulously is a good idea for everyone from

what I've seen recently looking into a/c units

and what I've heard.

Talking to people in a clinic a month ago, they

all sounded so familiar to each other even though

one was there for over exposure to formaldehyde,

and other chemicals. I have heard the book

'Detox of Die' by is a good

reference for information on this and what to do

about it but have not read it yet myself.

--- Lori Baur <lori@...> wrote:

> Does anyone know what my mold profile could

> mean? I will see the doctor next week but now

> I am really curious what this is.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

I don't know what ELISA. I am wondering if the " mold profile " is your DNA make

up. It was explained to me that the change in my DNA made me susceptible to

sickness due to biotoxin exposure. That is the only thing I can think of

although it sounds like a weird way to refer to it.

It's only my suggestion but I would be very careful (especially with the bed)

on moving things from a contaminated home to a new one. Cross contamination is

real and it is huge. Not to mention very expensive. I know it is hard if not

near impossible to let things go. I was told not to take much of anything but

certain things, as it turns out all I took with me was my computer and it ended

up contaminated as well and had to throw it out anyway. My bed was a very

expensive new bed but it was contaminated and i left it behind as well. After

time has gone by and as I continue to learn about this stuff i am so very glad I

did. My personal opinion is don't do it but I am not the god of mold advice so

just be very cautious and careful K.

Chris...

Lori Baur <lori@...> wrote:

Some may remember I had some blood tests done a few weeks ago

including an ELISA. I didn't know I also had a " mold profile. " I don't even

really know what that is. Well, my doctor's office called today and left a

message saying my lead test was fine (which is good, since we do have lead here)

and that my mold profile was normal.

Does anyone know what my mold profile could mean? I will see the doctor next

week but now I am really curious what this is.

I will look it up myself, too, but any insight you have would be helpful.

I am definitely still reacting to SOMETHING here. I have not gotten away as much

recently but when I do I feel better. Also I did notice I felt a little better

when the humidity went down last night.

We did take the A/C out and for a few days after that I felt a LOT better. We

have it stored somewhere else away from people and when we get the results

from Pro-Lab of the culture plate we did from the A/C we will decide what to do

with it. We are throwing away all of our upholstered stuff EXCEPT the new bed --

we are going to see how I do with just the bed in the new apartment over the

weekend. And then we'll bring the rest in slowly and hope we are not making any

big mistakes.

Thanks for any insight into what the mold profile could mean and if it could be

normal in the presence of possible mold reactivity. I still think that's what it

is, although I am not ruling out still the bed offgassing.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi BBW (I'm sorry I keep forgetting your first name, but I know it's in my brain

somewhere!)

I had the ELISA but I had a separate test called a mold profile. That's the one

I'm asking about now because I didn't even know I had it done until the nurse

called today with the results.

My IgEs levels are quite high, but on the ELISA my IgE levels did not show a

specific reaction to any of the antigens they tested for. From what I have read

today online, the mold profile also is an IgE test that tests like 15 different

types of mold or something.

I'll certainly mention the off-gassing possiblity to my doc when I see him. I

just don't know what to do if that is what the problem is. My doc is pretty

open to discovering what is going on, he's not closed-minded like it sounds like

some other doctors have been.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the advice on taking things with me -- we are simply unable to not

take things with us. We are getting rid of a lot and even that is difficult,

but it is the best we can do right now.

I know it could be a mistake and I appreciate all the advice about it, but the

best we can do at this time is to bring things in slowly to the new apartment

and see how I do. Especially since I still do not have any certainty at all as

to what is causing my symptoms. There is no obvious mold here. And if it's the

bed off-gassing, well, I don't know what to do about that -- I thought someone

said a few weeks ago I would just have to wait until it was done off-gassing or

something.

My husband is supportive but to get rid of everything would devastate us

professionally if not personally individually and as a married couple. He

simply needs his instruments and music books to make a living, as I need my work

equipment (that is at home) to make a living as well. We have no way to replace

these things, they have taken our whole lives to be able to afford them.

You say your bed was contaminated and your computer was contaminated -- how did

you determine this? From your reactions or from tests? Also when you say you

were told not to take much of anything and to take certain things -- what were

the certain things you could take and who were you told this by? Also did you

have a known mold or other sick building problem or just symptoms? This will

help me, because I am not sure how my situation relates to others situations

here.

Do most of you have known mold problems or more like symptoms with unknown

causes? Mine are symptoms with unknown casues. I have not determined at all

what the cause is, so the only thing I could do is to divorce my husband, leave

him and all his and my things and our cat behind, and move into -- a hut? I

don't know. I'm not trying to be melodramatic, but it is also hard for me to

understand how to determine to take things or not to take things -- how can I

know I wouldn't move into a new place and buy new things and still have

reactions?? You see what I'm saying?

Thanks again -- I'm just frustrated.

Lori

[Guest guest]

I'm conflicted about this also. For example,

everyone says to clean with a hepa vaccumn. I

don't have one. I'd have to buy it to clean up

house, even if just to sell it, then I'm faced

with do I leave new hepa vacuum behind. If I

don't buy a hepa and I clean house, stuff will

blow back into house or more stuff will. I can't

just leave house unclean, and I haven't decided

to definately sell it yet, so I buy

'allergen' filter bags for an old vaccum but it

has no attachments to vaccum many things I have

to get to. It a very difficult problem. Also I

bought a very expensive air purifier and am using

it in house so have to wonder whether to take

that. I think I will take all the filters out

and clean with ammonia and water and take to new

place and put new filters in there. It's really

tricky.

--- Tazin Round <unitedstatesvet@...>

wrote:

> Hi Lori,

> I don't know what ELISA. I am wondering if

> the " mold profile " is your DNA make up. It was

> explained to me that the change in my DNA made

> me susceptible to sickness due to biotoxin

> exposure. That is the only thing I can think of

> although it sounds like a weird way to refer to

> it.

> It's only my suggestion but I would be very

> careful (especially with the bed) on moving

> things from a contaminated home to a new one.

> Cross contamination is real and it is huge. Not

>

[Guest guest]

Lori,

In light of the fact that you are unsure then you are doing the best thing at

this point. I thought you had testing done. I completely know what you mean

about the music stuff, especially if it is his living. I used to own a recording

studio. Thank god I had sold it awhile back. Indeed that would have devastated

me all the way around. I did have to leave a set of drums and an acoustic

guitar.

As far as my situation, yes I had testing done professionally and got my

recommendations from them and material I had read that backed it up as well. The

advice was any paper, fabric, wood and carpeting (such as my very expensive area

rugs) mold will continue to grow on. They said things such as appliances, TVs

stereos and stuff like that could be cleaned during the remediation process but

could not leave the premises until it had been done. (although I now have

extreme doubts I can back up that this is true. I believe they must be discarded

as well)

Clothing, bed linen, towels, rugs, cardboard box's, papers, wood, things made

of wood fibered material and such things like speakers should be discarded. (I

copied that directly from their recommendations.

Since my car was opened and in the garage the entire inside upholstery has to

be replaced and I am not to even open the doors again until it does.

The computer I spoke of I had tested with a Pro Lab kit but the results turned

up the same as the professional test results did that is how I found out. I

decided to test it because when I opened the cover the dost inside looked

nothing like regular dust. You can look at my pictures here on the board. That

is my computer monitor inside... Ya pretty intense.

Your not being dramatic at all, we have all been there. My marriage ended

during this process at least partly because my wife thought I was a not case. To

beat all she is in nursing school and does not believe much of this. The dog in

my pictures is one of two. He went blind within no more than a month. She took

him and has found that the vets are now stumped so she is starting to wonder but

anyway. I understand all you are feeling. Don't worry so much yet though. You

could be having something as simple as an allergic reaction to something. You

won't know that until you get some testing done though.

Chris...

Lori Baur <lori@...> wrote:

Thanks for the advice on taking things with me -- we are simply unable to not

take things with us. We are getting rid of a lot and even that is difficult, but

it is the best we can do right now.

I know it could be a mistake and I appreciate all the advice about it, but the

best we can do at this time is to bring things in slowly to the new apartment

and see how I do. Especially since I still do not have any certainty at all as

to what is causing my symptoms. There is no obvious mold here. And if it's the

bed off-gassing, well, I don't know what to do about that -- I thought someone

said a few weeks ago I would just have to wait until it was done off-gassing or

something.

My husband is supportive but to get rid of everything would devastate us

professionally if not personally individually and as a married couple. He simply

needs his instruments and music books to make a living, as I need my work

equipment (that is at home) to make a living as well. We have no way to replace

these things, they have taken our whole lives to be able to afford them.

You say your bed was contaminated and your computer was contaminated -- how did

you determine this? From your reactions or from tests? Also when you say you

were told not to take much of anything and to take certain things -- what were

the certain things you could take and who were you told this by? Also did you

have a known mold or other sick building problem or just symptoms? This will

help me, because I am not sure how my situation relates to others situations

here.

Do most of you have known mold problems or more like symptoms with unknown

causes? Mine are symptoms with unknown casues. I have not determined at all what

the cause is, so the only thing I could do is to divorce my husband, leave him

and all his and my things and our cat behind, and move into -- a hut? I don't

know. I'm not trying to be melodramatic, but it is also hard for me to

understand how to determine to take things or not to take things -- how can I

know I wouldn't move into a new place and buy new things and still have

reactions?? You see what I'm saying?

Thanks again -- I'm just frustrated.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Ya Barb this is a tough one and really is determined by your means. If you can

afford it I would leave it all and not take any chances. I have said they say

some things can be cleaned with a hepa vacuum but I wonder are they going to

take my TV apart and vacuum every part? How do they get in the little nook and

cranny's where mold will hide. I have found and many have posted here about mold

being attracted to at least some electronic devices. If so when did remidiators

become electricians and gain the knowledge on how to take this stuff apart. Have

you ever taken a hepa filter vacuum and vacuumed up Sheetrock dust and never

seen any of it get past the filter? I have and sorry, no vacuum I have ever

owned was that good. I don't know I hated getting rid of everything but in

hindsight I am glad I did. I have had enough other issues to deal with.

Chris...

bbw <barb1283@...> wrote:

I'm conflicted about this also. For example,

everyone says to clean with a hepa vaccumn. I

don't have one. I'd have to buy it to clean up

house, even if just to sell it, then I'm faced

with do I leave new hepa vacuum behind. If I

don't buy a hepa and I clean house, stuff will

blow back into house or more stuff will. I can't

just leave house unclean, and I haven't decided

to definately sell it yet, so I buy

'allergen' filter bags for an old vaccum but it

has no attachments to vaccum many things I have

to get to. It a very difficult problem. Also I

bought a very expensive air purifier and am using

it in house so have to wonder whether to take

that. I think I will take all the filters out

and clean with ammonia and water and take to new

place and put new filters in there. It's really

tricky.

--- Tazin Round <unitedstatesvet@...>

wrote:

> Hi Lori,

> I don't know what ELISA. I am wondering if

> the " mold profile " is your DNA make up. It was

> explained to me that the change in my DNA made

> me susceptible to sickness due to biotoxin

> exposure. That is the only thing I can think of

> although it sounds like a weird way to refer to

> it.

> It's only my suggestion but I would be very

> careful (especially with the bed) on moving

> things from a contaminated home to a new one.

> Cross contamination is real and it is huge. Not

>

Life is a balance of holding on and letting go...

---------------------------------

Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates

starting at 1¢/min.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your very detailed response, this helps -- and I will take a

look at the pictures and also pay attention what you said about things that

could be cleaned (or not in your actual experience) and things that could not be

cleaned

I don't know what kind of additional testing to do. We did mold culture plates.

The only one that seemed to show anything significant was the one from the A/C

and I've been waiting a few weeks for the results. We can't afford to have

anyone come in to test. I called several places in the area and they were 2500

and up. That's completely impossible for us at this point.

And the landlord is being cooperative and said we could move. They came and

inspected and did not find any mold, nor did we .. so we don't have much

recourse as far as getting them to pay for testing, especially since they are

letting us move to another apartment on the other side of the complex and giving

us an extra week to move out of here.

The only other test we did is a lead test which actually came back positive but

my lead blood test did not. We also did a tape sample from some debris on our

leaky radiator that looked suspicious and that came back apparently negative.

To me I am having a hard time understanding what the difference is between

something " as simple " as an allergic reaction, as you say, and everything else.

I understand that one can be much more serious than the other but on the other

hand if it's making me or someone very sick (which this is) does it matter

whether it's an allergic reaction or something else? I guess it matters in

terms of the health complications long term and the seriousness of it, but in

terms of how to proceed, I don't see what difference it does make ... maybe it's

because I feel so crappy it's hard to see these things. I mean, I think it

probably is an allergic reaction type of thing since my IgEs are high -- but I

don't know. And they weren't high in response to anything specific. I guess I

will talk to my doc next week about any further testing he can do.

We will be out of here completely within about a week. I pray that we don't

take " the thing " with us. Maybe it is something behind the walls, which

honestly at this point would be the best case, because I seem to do fine in the

new place -- it's way on the other side of this complex.

Thanks again!

Lori

[Guest guest]

Lori,

It takes awhile to figure out. I started feeling

bad in 2003 slightly and now really just feel I

am beginning to know why but still not sure what

to do about it since it involves multiple issues.

I think that what gets you, when more than one

thing hits you and your body's coping ability is

really stretched to it's limits. Mine appears to

be mold toxins for about 15 years, actual

mold/fungal infection finally and then lead

exposure. How much of my health I can regain,

don't know. I DO know the change in air now is

putting some roses back in my checks....unless

it's another rash developing!!!

Let us know what mold profile is. Barb

--- Lori Baur <lori@...> wrote:

> Hi BBW (I'm sorry I keep forgetting your first

> name, but I know it's in my brain somewhere!)

>

>

[Guest guest]

LOL Lori,

That's the idea...

It takes awhile to figure it out. If you can

move slowly, it makes sense. You could even rent

one of those storage pods if landlord would allow

you and move everything into there and then do it

even more slowly. I don't know if those things

are humid though or things can be stored well for

long period of time. One of heard of today

called 'rest a Sam'...?

--- Lori Baur <lori@...> wrote:

>

>

> Thanks for the advice on taking things with me

> -- we are simply unable to not take things with

> us. We are getting rid of a lot and even that

> is difficult, but it is the best

[Guest guest]

In an apartment that is very likely. They paint over everything. Your thought

process is very good so I think you will figure it out eventually.

Most Dr.'s do not understand this very well so understand that. Something I

learned recently from Dr. Shoemakers paperwork he sent me is about MSH. This is

a test I think anyone who just feels crappy all the time for unexplained reasons

should have. If your MSH is low it is responsible for so many things that it

will literally make you feel like you are a hypochondriac and crazy and so will

your family doctor.

Go to www.chronicneurotoxins.com and do some reading there. This is Dr.

Shoemakers sight and he has written some awesome books about this stuff that you

will be able to understand. Bit the MSH thing was a real eye opener for me. When

I was told it was low I did not know what that meant but now I do.

Good luck, it sounds like you are heading in the rite direction...

Chris...

Lori Baur <lori@...> wrote:

Thanks for your very detailed response, this helps -- and I

will take a look at the pictures and also pay attention what you said about

things that could be cleaned (or not in your actual experience) and things that

could not be cleaned

I don't know what kind of additional testing to do. We did mold culture plates.

The only one that seemed to show anything significant was the one from the A/C

and I've been waiting a few weeks for the results. We can't afford to have

anyone come in to test. I called several places in the area and they were 2500

and up. That's completely impossible for us at this point.

And the landlord is being cooperative and said we could move. They came and

inspected and did not find any mold, nor did we .. so we don't have much

recourse as far as getting them to pay for testing, especially since they are

letting us move to another apartment on the other side of the complex and giving

us an extra week to move out of here.

The only other test we did is a lead test which actually came back positive but

my lead blood test did not. We also did a tape sample from some debris on our

leaky radiator that looked suspicious and that came back apparently negative.

To me I am having a hard time understanding what the difference is between

something " as simple " as an allergic reaction, as you say, and everything else.

I understand that one can be much more serious than the other but on the other

hand if it's making me or someone very sick (which this is) does it matter

whether it's an allergic reaction or something else? I guess it matters in terms

of the health complications long term and the seriousness of it, but in terms of

how to proceed, I don't see what difference it does make ... maybe it's because

I feel so crappy it's hard to see these things. I mean, I think it probably is

an allergic reaction type of thing since my IgEs are high -- but I don't know.

And they weren't high in response to anything specific. I guess I will talk to

my doc next week about any further testing he can do.

We will be out of here completely within about a week. I pray that we don't take

" the thing " with us. Maybe it is something behind the walls, which honestly at

this point would be the best case, because I seem to do fine in the new place --

it's way on the other side of this complex.

Thanks again!

Lori

[Guest guest]

Hey Barb,

I don't know if there are other companies like this but my parents are renting

to own a shed (10X13 I think but they have bigger and smaller) that is very nice

and sealed very well. It has two windows and a handicap sized hinged door. It is

so nice I have often thought about putting Sheetrock and a window air

conditioner in and moving in it. If I am not mistaken it is just over 100.00 a

month which is cheaper than a storage unit.

Chris...

bbw <barb1283@...> wrote:

LOL Lori,

That's the idea...

It takes awhile to figure it out. If you can

move slowly, it makes sense. You could even rent

one of those storage pods if landlord would allow

you and move everything into there and then do it

even more slowly. I don't know if those things

are humid though or things can be stored well for

long period of time. One of heard of today

called 'rest a Sam'...?

--- Lori Baur <lori@...> wrote:

>

>

> Thanks for the advice on taking things with me

> -- we are simply unable to not take things with

> us. We are getting rid of a lot and even that

> is difficult, but it is the best

Life is a balance of holding on and letting go...

---------------------------------

Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out.

[Guest guest]

People tend to blow off allergies but they can be severe also. I am

very allergic to mold and in the beginning of this illness I had a

severe allergic reaction and my entire body swelled up and I had

these huge hives all over my body. My eyes looked like I was 100

years old. They called it severe uticaria. But when you are exposed

for some time--I suppose it took years for me to tell something was

wrong, other things happen to your body. All of my sinuses were

infected, the asthma and multliple chemical sensitivity started. I

started getting chronic yeast infections. I remember saying to my

doctor at first that it seemed like everything hurt in my body but it

wasn't always at the same time. Sometimes it was my head, sometimes

my lungs, sometimes my muscles. Some people start having difficulty

sleeping and eating. For me I sometimes vomit when I get a migrane.

That has happened so many times I couldn't tell you. My husband was

fine at first other than having trouble with fragrances, newspapers,

cleaning products but he continued to work. Then in the third mold

place when we were moving he was not wearing a mask and he had a

major seizure at our lawyers office. He was rushed to the hospital.

He flipped on the floor seizing for about 15 minutes. The lawyer

didn't know what to do. Later he had a blood clot by his heart. He

can work now but I can't. So the mold gets us all in different

ways. I don't have as much fatigue as I did in the beginning of the

illness but since I have had this for so long I am dealing with the

long term effects. So what ever wear a mask when moving. I wore

mask and goggles--they bothered me but after a while when you start

kicking up the dust and whatever else the air gets really bad. The

last move I had trouble the first day we starting packing. So be

careful and clean what you take with you the best you can. Throw out

any papers you can, blankets, clothes. Use your judgement. It is so

hard to throw your stuff away especially when it looks fine. But for

me the stench in the house was so bad that it gets easier to throw

things away as you go. It is very confusing and upsetting to go

through all of this but you can't imagine when you do it 3 and 4

times it is really difficult. My last place didn't have mold but I

was constantly getting zapped with fragrance from other neighbors. I

would wake up at 4 in the morning every morning when my neighbor took

a shower. The fumes came up through the walls and I would open the

window and the exhaust fan was by the window so I would have to

close it. I never had these problems before. And do not sign a

release form if this apartment complex ask you to sign one. One of

my fist mistakes. They gave us a new apartment but in the same

building and never cleaned up the mold in original apartment so it

spread to my air system. Since I signed that release they basically

didn't clean up mold since I could not hold them liable. Even though

you are not in the same building you can't be sure that the new place

doesn't have mold. It may be just fine, but don't sign anything

releasing them from liability in case you do get sicker or whatever

the future holds. I never thought about sueing anyone but when I

got to the third place I was really mad and sick. Good luck with the

move.

> Thanks for your very detailed response, this

helps -- and I will take a look at the pictures and also pay

attention what you said about things that could be cleaned (or not in

your actual experience) and things that could not be cleaned

>

> I don't know what kind of additional testing to do. We did mold

culture plates. The only one that seemed to show anything significant

was the one from the A/C and I've been waiting a few weeks for the

results. We can't afford to have anyone come in to test. I called

several places in the area and they were 2500 and up. That's

completely impossible for us at this point.

>

> And the landlord is being cooperative and said we could move. They

came and inspected and did not find any mold, nor did we .. so we

don't have much recourse as far as getting them to pay for testing,

especially since they are letting us move to another apartment on the

other side of the complex and giving us an extra week to move out of

here.

>

> The only other test we did is a lead test which actually came back

positive but my lead blood test did not. We also did a tape sample

from some debris on our leaky radiator that looked suspicious and

that came back apparently negative.

>

> To me I am having a hard time understanding what the difference is

between something " as simple " as an allergic reaction, as you say,

and everything else. I understand that one can be much more serious

than the other but on the other hand if it's making me or someone

very sick (which this is) does it matter whether it's an allergic

reaction or something else? I guess it matters in terms of the health

complications long term and the seriousness of it, but in terms of

how to proceed, I don't see what difference it does make ... maybe

it's because I feel so crappy it's hard to see these things. I mean,

I think it probably is an allergic reaction type of thing since my

IgEs are high -- but I don't know. And they weren't high in response

to anything specific. I guess I will talk to my doc next week about

any further testing he can do.

>

> We will be out of here completely within about a week. I pray that

we don't take " the thing " with us. Maybe it is something behind the

walls, which honestly at this point would be the best case, because I

seem to do fine in the new place -- it's way on the other side of

this complex.

>

> Thanks again!

>

> Lori

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I understand as I have been there and am still there. Its very difficult

especially when you feel like you do. Ill put you in my prayers,

Janet

[Guest guest]

-, sorry you have been through so much. and I tottally

understand your anger.defence has for ever tried to make people fell

guilty about sueing.in a perfect world there would be justice and

that itself would make people think twice about exposeing others to

things that could harm them for the sake of a few bucks. just like

the saying 'mold is gold', started by defence to stigmatized these

cases when in fact just finding a lawyer to do them is very hard.what

a screwed up world we live in.-- In

, " ldelp84227 " <ldelp84227@...> wrote:

>

> People tend to blow off allergies but they can be severe also. I am

> very allergic to mold and in the beginning of this illness I had a

> severe allergic reaction and my entire body swelled up and I had

> these huge hives all over my body. My eyes looked like I was 100

> years old. They called it severe uticaria. But when you are

exposed

> for some time--I suppose it took years for me to tell something was

> wrong, other things happen to your body. All of my sinuses were

> infected, the asthma and multliple chemical sensitivity started. I

> started getting chronic yeast infections. I remember saying to my

> doctor at first that it seemed like everything hurt in my body but

it

> wasn't always at the same time. Sometimes it was my head,

sometimes

> my lungs, sometimes my muscles. Some people start having

difficulty

> sleeping and eating. For me I sometimes vomit when I get a

migrane.

> That has happened so many times I couldn't tell you. My husband

was

> fine at first other than having trouble with fragrances,

newspapers,

> cleaning products but he continued to work. Then in the third mold

> place when we were moving he was not wearing a mask and he had a

> major seizure at our lawyers office. He was rushed to the

hospital.

> He flipped on the floor seizing for about 15 minutes. The lawyer

> didn't know what to do. Later he had a blood clot by his heart.

He

> can work now but I can't. So the mold gets us all in different

> ways. I don't have as much fatigue as I did in the beginning of

the

> illness but since I have had this for so long I am dealing with the

> long term effects. So what ever wear a mask when moving. I wore

> mask and goggles--they bothered me but after a while when you start

> kicking up the dust and whatever else the air gets really bad. The

> last move I had trouble the first day we starting packing. So be

> careful and clean what you take with you the best you can. Throw

out

> any papers you can, blankets, clothes. Use your judgement. It is

so

> hard to throw your stuff away especially when it looks fine. But

for

> me the stench in the house was so bad that it gets easier to throw

> things away as you go. It is very confusing and upsetting to go

> through all of this but you can't imagine when you do it 3 and 4

> times it is really difficult. My last place didn't have mold but I

> was constantly getting zapped with fragrance from other neighbors.

I

> would wake up at 4 in the morning every morning when my neighbor

took

> a shower. The fumes came up through the walls and I would open the

> window and the exhaust fan was by the window so I would have to

> close it. I never had these problems before. And do not sign a

> release form if this apartment complex ask you to sign one. One of

> my fist mistakes. They gave us a new apartment but in the same

> building and never cleaned up the mold in original apartment so it

> spread to my air system. Since I signed that release they

basically

> didn't clean up mold since I could not hold them liable. Even

though

> you are not in the same building you can't be sure that the new

place

> doesn't have mold. It may be just fine, but don't sign anything

> releasing them from liability in case you do get sicker or

whatever

> the future holds. I never thought about sueing anyone but when I

> got to the third place I was really mad and sick. Good luck with

the

> move.

>

>

> > Thanks for your very detailed response, this

> helps -- and I will take a look at the pictures and also pay

> attention what you said about things that could be cleaned (or not

in

> your actual experience) and things that could not be cleaned

> >

> > I don't know what kind of additional testing to do. We did mold

> culture plates. The only one that seemed to show anything

significant

> was the one from the A/C and I've been waiting a few weeks for the

> results. We can't afford to have anyone come in to test. I called

> several places in the area and they were 2500 and up. That's

> completely impossible for us at this point.

> >

> > And the landlord is being cooperative and said we could move.

They

> came and inspected and did not find any mold, nor did we .. so we

> don't have much recourse as far as getting them to pay for testing,

> especially since they are letting us move to another apartment on

the

> other side of the complex and giving us an extra week to move out

of

> here.

> >

> > The only other test we did is a lead test which actually came

back

> positive but my lead blood test did not. We also did a tape sample

> from some debris on our leaky radiator that looked suspicious and

> that came back apparently negative.

> >

> > To me I am having a hard time understanding what the difference

is

> between something " as simple " as an allergic reaction, as you say,

> and everything else. I understand that one can be much more serious

> than the other but on the other hand if it's making me or someone

> very sick (which this is) does it matter whether it's an allergic

> reaction or something else? I guess it matters in terms of the

health

> complications long term and the seriousness of it, but in terms of

> how to proceed, I don't see what difference it does make ... maybe

> it's because I feel so crappy it's hard to see these things. I

mean,

> I think it probably is an allergic reaction type of thing since my

> IgEs are high -- but I don't know. And they weren't high in

response

> to anything specific. I guess I will talk to my doc next week about

> any further testing he can do.

> >

> > We will be out of here completely within about a week. I pray

that

> we don't take " the thing " with us. Maybe it is something behind the

> walls, which honestly at this point would be the best case, because

I

> seem to do fine in the new place -- it's way on the other side of

> this complex.

> >

> > Thanks again!

> >

> > Lori

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Sounds great. I think I will store myself in

something like that too! It's just my speed. I

can put it on my property and 'visit' my home.

--- Tazin Round <unitedstatesvet@...>

wrote:

> Hey Barb,

> I don't know if there are other companies

> like this but my parents are renting to own a

> shed (10X13 I think but they have bigger and

> smaller) that is very nice and sealed very

> well. It has two windows and a handicap sized

> hinged door. It is so nice I have often thought

> about putting Sheetrock and a window air

> conditioner in and moving in it. If I am not

> mistaken it is just over 100.00 a month which

> is cheaper than a storage unit.

> Chris...

>